Landscaping and Grading

All lands within the City of Oshawa are subject to the Site Alteration By-law. This by-law helps the City regulate grading activities within private land, such as removing or adding soil that may change a homeowner's land levels.

Changing the land surface or grade could interfere with the way water moves off your property. Water that cannot drain off correctly can cause problems for yourself or your neighbour.

What is grading?

Grading is altering the ground surface elevation by cutting, filling, levelling or smoothing.

What is landscaping?

Landscaping is a term used to refer to any activity that changes the visible features of an area of land. Landscaping may include planting, grading, patios, fences, water features and building structures.

Site Alteration Permits

Do I need a Site Alteration permit?

Depending on the type of work you are proposing on your property, a Site Alteration permit may be required before you begin construction. The purpose of the permit is to ensure that there is no negative impact to you, your neighbours and/or the environment.

Get a Site Alteration permit for the following types of work:

• In-ground pool installation 
• Erecting structure/building 
• If the elevation of the land within 0.6 m of the property line is to be changed
• Change in the location, direction or elevation of any natural or artificial watercourse, open channel, swale or ditch used to drain land
• Landscaping (when handling material more than 20 cu m)
• Changing the existing drainage pattern
• Works that could cause impact to the adjacent properties
• Works related to new development

Apply for a Site Alteration Permit

Apply now - Email your completed Site Alteration Permit Application form to [email protected]

Do I need a Clearance Letter?

Depending on the type of work you are proposing on your property, you may need a Clearance Letter prior to construction to ensure that you, your neighbours and/or the environment are not negatively impacted.

Get a Clearance Letter for the following types of work:

• Above ground pool
• Any work associated with a Building Permit

How to apply: Email a completed Screening Questionnaire for Site Alteration By-law form, including a plan for your proposal, to [email protected]

Landscaping and grading concerns

If your property is located in a newly built subdivision or in an existing development area and you have another concern email Engineering Services, Development and Technical Services or call 905-436-5606. 

If your concern is about roof drainage, discharge of pool water, road drainage or drainage in open space or parkland please contact Service Oshawa 

Call before you dig

Digging into an underground utility can be dangerous and have costly consequences. You are responsible for any damage or injury caused by interfering with any buried infrastructure. To avoid damaging an underground utility, be sure to locate buried pipes and cables before any excavation work.

Visit the Ontario One Call website or call 1-800-400-2255 for all utility location requests.

• Erecting structure/building

• If the elevation of the land within 0.6 m of the property line is to be changed
• Change in the location, direction or elevation of any natural or artificial watercourse, open channel, swale or ditch used to drain land
• Landscaping (when handling material more than 20 cu m)
• Changing the existing drainage pattern
• Works that could cause impact to the adjacent properties
• Works related to new development